Peer isolation and drug use among white non-Hispanic and Mexican American adolescents.

The social-emotional characteristics and drug-use patterns of adolescents who reported having no friends (i.e., isolates) were compared to those of adolescents in drug-using and non-drug-using peer groups. Adolescents who did not have drug-using peers reported the lowest drug use and those with drug-using peers had the highest drug use, with adolescents who were isolated falling in between. Isolated youth reported more shyness, greater feelings of alienation, and lower social acceptance than did those in the other groups. Isolated youth also reported more anger and depression than did youth with non-drug-using peers, but less anger and equivalent depression when compared to adolescents with drug-using peers. Results are discussed in terms of social-emotional characteristics of isolated youth and risk/protective factors.

Structural equation socialization model of substance use among Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic school dropouts.

PURPOSE: To test a socialization model of polydrug use among Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic school dropouts. METHODS: A sample of 910 Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic school dropouts were surveyed regarding their use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs, and socialization characteristics that have previously been shown to be predictive of adolescent substance use. A structural equation model based on peer cluster theory was evaluated for goodness of fit and for differences in model characteristics by ethnicity and gender. RESULTS: Results partially confirmed peer cluster theory among school dropouts in that association with drug-using peers was the most powerful direct predictor of substance use. The effects of a number of other socializing influences were indirect, mediated through association with drug-using peers. Some differences were present between Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Results were similar to those obtained from previous tests of this model among youth who remain in school, suggesting that social influences on drug use are similar across students and school dropouts. Association with drug-using peers dominates the prediction of substance use among school dropouts. However, family communication of drug use sanctions helps to both limit substance use and strengthen family bonds. Prior school adjustment is likely to be an important protective factor in limiting substance use among Mexican-American dropouts.

Correlates of sexual assault in Mexican American and white non-Hispanic adolescent males.

Psychosocial and emotional characteristics were assessed in a nonclinical sample of 1,385 adolescent Mexican American and White non-Hispanic males. Fifty-four males who reported being sexually assaulted one or more times were compared to 1,331 males who reported no history of sexual assault. Sexually assaulted male victims were more emotionally distressed, socially isolated, deviant (e.g., lying & stealing), likely to affiliate with deviant peers, and to come from homes in which there was parental substance use, than males who did not report sexual assault. Significant differences were not found between Mexican American and White non-Hispanic assault victims. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Alcohol use and academic status among Mexican American and White non-Hispanic adolescents.

In this study, Mexican American and White non-Hispanic school dropouts and students in good academic standing were compared on their use of alcohol. Results indicated that dropouts were at higher risk for alcohol use and misuse. Dropouts were 2.53 times more likely to report frequent alcohol use, 3.16 times more likely to classify themselves as heavy drinkers, and 3.00 times more likely to report frequent drunkenness when compared with their in-school counterparts. Gender, but not ethnicity, was also associated with alcohol use and misuse. The implications regarding greater risk of alcohol use and misuse among dropouts are discussed in terms of prevalence and prevention.

An epidemiological comparison of Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic 8th- and 12th-grade students' substance use.

Surveys of drug and alcohol use were conducted with a national probability sample of 8th- and 12th-grade Mexican-American and White non-Hispanic youth. The drug and alcohol epidemiology is representative of US Mexican-American youth residing in communities with populations of 2500 or more, at least 10% of whom are Mexican Americans. Mexican-American 8th graders reported generally higher rates of use than White non-Hispanics based on life-time prevalence and use in last month. They also reported higher frequency of high-risk drug behaviors. The pattern was reversed among 12th-grade students. The impact of differential school dropout rates is discussed as a probable cause for this reversal.

Mexican American and white American school dropouts' drug use, health status, and involvement in violence.

A group of Mexican American and white American school dropouts were compared with a control group and a group of academically at-risk students in three locations in the Southwest. The sample group consisted of school dropouts and comparison subjects in grades 6 through 12. Both comparison groups were matched with the dropouts by sex, ethnicity, and school grade. At risk students also were matched by age and grade point average. Dropout subjects were found to have the highest rates of alcohol and drug use, followed by at risk student subjects. The relative rates of use were about the same for nearly all drugs, with the largest differences found for drinking to intoxication and use of marijuana, uppers, and cocaine. Among the dropouts, 75 percent of Mexican American males and 90 percent of white American males had tried marijuana. More than a third of the dropouts had tried cocaine. One-third of the Mexican American males and more than half of the females in both the Mexican American and the white American group had tried uppers. Females, especially dropouts, had higher rates of tobacco smoking than males. The rates of cigarette smoking among dropouts were significantly greater than among the control group only for males. Health problems of parents were not related to dropping out of school for any of the ethnic or sex groups. However, dropouts were more likely to have had serious illness within the preceding year than members of the control group. Many dropouts live in a violent and dangerous world. As an example, about one in five dropouts had held a gun on someone in a confrontation, and 20 percent had cut someone with a knife. Nearly half had been badly beaten. Females were rarely perpetrators of crimes or misdemeanors, but were often victims. Forty-two percent of the white American female dropouts had been either raped or sexually assaulted. Mexican American females were found less likely to be victims of violence, which perhaps reflects cultural values of marianisma and machismo, involving protectiveness toward females.